Fast food and lack of physical exercise can quickly show up on the scale. Increasingly, Americans are becoming overweight at younger and younger ages. Many teenagers are now considered to be obese--determined by their body mass index (BMI)--more than ever before. Studies show that children and teenagers who are obese have a greater chance of becoming obese adults. Additionally, obesity causes both physical and emotional difficulties, so maintaining a healthy body weight is important for everyone. If you believe that your teenage child may be obese, you can calculate their BMI by using the link to the right. After that, check the suggestions below for treating teenage obesity:
- See the doctor. It is important to have a check-up before beginning an exercise regimen or making dietary changes for the purpose of weight loss. Schedule a thorough physical exam to evaluate your teenager's overall health status and to rule out any metabolic disorders. Your doctor will be able to offer individualized advice based on your teen's height, weight, and current fitness level.
- Ready to go! Once you've gotten the go-ahead from your doctor, you can begin to implement changes. It is important that the entire family, and not just the overweight teenager, be involved in fitness and healthy eating. There is no need to single out your teen since it is beneficial for everyone to eat well and stay active.
- Do not stock junk food in your house. Be sure that you have an ample supply of fresh produce on hand for snacking, and concentrate meal planning around lean sources of protein, whole grains, vegetables, and fresh fruit desserts. By making it inconvenient to choose sugary or greasy foods, your teen will be likely to eat less of them. Additionally, by reserving these foods to occasional meals out, your teen will indulge in one serving rather than having constant access to inappropriate food selections.
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Author: Elizabeth Grace